And another year has passed.

How on earth am I going to try and remember to get blogging more regularly. I honestly missed a fabulous opportunity to record life in Lockdown, didn't I! 

We are now into June 2020 and after 3 months of draconian lockdown have moved to Level 3 allowing a lot more freedom of movement - although still no tourism allowed so my self catering business still can't earn me any income. And still no going to the beach or other public spots for photos. But here are a few of the photos I have taken through lockdown anyway. Some are "drive-by shootings" driving past on my way to or from the butcher, for example, and grabbing a shot. 



 
Some taken when we moved from level 5 lockdown which prevailed for 5 weeks, into level 4 lockdown during the month of May when we were finally allowed out for exercise between 6am - 9am.

Winter 2019

I see it is now 3 years since I last looked at my blog. I'm not very good at this blogging thing am I! There seems to be so much going on in my life, but maybe it's time to give it another try. So here are a couple of recent photos taken in July/August 2019:-

Our winters are usually pretty mild. We have those cloudy days, misty days, rainy days, and warm sunshiny days all mixed up in winter. Here is a lovely warm sunshiny winter's day, down at the local fishing harbour.




And then the following day was filled with delicious clouds, so Bokkom Laan seemed a good place to go ...
















And then we have days that are overcast and drizzling like this ....








But it's mostly sunshine and warm. Clouds are a bonus to make the sky more interesting.

Flower Season 2016

I can't believe it! Time has simply flown by. Winter has rushed past so quickly I barely even noticed it. Yes the temperatures dropped. Yes it even got quite cold at times, but once again this year we didn't get the winter rains we were hoping for. 

The early flowers in Velddrif at the old graveyard

Acres and acres of flowers at West Coast National Park

Somewhere along the road between Port Owen and Hopefield

Some detail of the fields heading towards Hopefield

On the roadside between Port Owen and our nearest large shopping centre at Vredenburg

Somehow, though, the countryside managed to green up with the bit of rain we did get, and we had a truly magnificent flower season this year. So whilst the farmers cry out for rains, and the dams are low, and we can expect even more severe water restrictions this summer, it has been a great season for the holiday visitors.

Autumn

I love autumn in the Western Cape. I love the slight coolness after the long hot dry days of summer. I love the clouds, and the contrasts of the bright sunshiny mornings, and then cool foggy mornings.

We need the wind in summer time to cool things down for us, but in autumn we have less wind and great reflections

 
 

Too late for the sunset

Sunset was looking good while I was washing the supper dishes tonight, so I decided I'd missed so many fabulous sunsets lately that I'd grab my stuff and head on down to the Port Owen Holding Jetty on the river. Well I was too late - the sun had well and truly set by the time I got there, but I got a couple of okay shots anyway.

Things to do and places to go #5:- Paternoster

Paternoster is a quaint little fishing village with loads of character on the West Coast. Google Maps informs me it is 31 minutes (39.4km) from Velddrif, but in my personal experience I would allow more like about 40 - 45 minutes. But maybe I just drive more slowly than most other people!

I believe Paternoster is one of the oldest fishing villages in South Africa. It is certainly filled with charm, with posh new houses cheek by jowl with old dilapidated fisherman's cottages. The community is still deeply entwined in fishing, the wide sandy beach is a riot of colour when all the fishing boats are in. 

(More text and photos to be added in future)

Things to do and places to go #4: Local is Lekker - Bokkom Laan

Sometimes it is great to just relax and take in some of the sights and sounds on the doorstep. Bokkom Laan is one of these places. It is only a few kilometers from the apartment and can be a great place to unwind and watch the pelicans and other birdlife.

To get to Bokkom Laan you will need to simply follow Port Owen Drive to the T-junction, then turn right onto Voortrekker Road. Follow Voortrekker Road past the municipality and post office. Past the Riviera Hotel on your right. Past the Bird Hide on your right. Just after the road narrows to one lane look out for the first turning to the right and follow this down to the river where the road turns left and becomes a gravel road. 
 







Bokkoms is dried and salted Mullet (Harder) which is a West Coast delicacy. There are numerous little Bokkom industries on Bokkom Laan as well as an art gallery, a couple of restaurants / coffee shops, etc. and some boat tours. 


 

You will sometimes be able to get up close and personal with Pelicans who have learned that there are frequently handouts of fresh fish for them from the fishermen who bring their catches in here.